Concerned Women for America - Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Just Look at the Facts

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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Just Look at the Facts 7/7/2009
By Lydia Van Matre

Opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the 1993 law that bars homosexuals from the military assume two misguided principles. First, every American possesses the “right” to serve in the armed forces. Second, the authority to determine who should be allowed to enlist lies with the civilian population.

The primary purpose of the armed forces is “to prepare for and to prevail in combat should the need arise,” according to the 1993 law, officially titled Section 654, Title 10. Success in combat requires military units that are characterized by high morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion.

Any person who may jeopardize the development of these characteristics must be prohibited from enlisting. Homosexual activists assume that — as Americans — they possess a right to join the Army. They don’t. Just as anyone who is legally blind cannot join the Air Force, homosexuals may not join the military because they would hinder its ability to protect and defend the nation.

Media coverage of efforts to nullify the 1993 law often cite public opinion polls which indicate that the majority of civilians think the 1993 law should be repealed, such as the articles in US News & World Report and TIME Magazine.

But there is something more important than civilian opinion when discussing whether to repeal the military ban. It’s the opinion of the men and women of the U.S. military.

They are the ones risking their lives to protect America. They are the ones who realize the detrimental consequences that repealing the policy would have upon the ability of our military to protect the nation.

In a statement of support for the 1993 law, over 1,050 distinguished military leaders signed an open letter to the President of the United States and other administration officials. The letter says that repealing the law would “undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the all-volunteer Force.”

The Military community is a specialized society that is fundamentally different from civilian life. It is the military’s opinion and input that matters — not civilians who are safe at home.

The Flag and General Officers for the Military produced an issue overview that cited four reasons why the armed forces disapproves nullifying the 1993 law:

1) It would deplete military manpower.

If repealed, fewer personnel would volunteer for the forces, causing more frequent deployments and potential combat situations with fewer, less-skilled people.

A 2008 Military Times poll found that if the 1993 law was repealed, 10 percent of respondents would not re-enlist and an additional 14 percent would consider ending their careers.

2) Military life is tough enough.

Current law recognizes that the military is a “specialized society” that is “fundamentally different from civilian life.” The men and women of the military cannot return home to escape the pressures and frustrations of work.

Nullifying the law would impose a new policy of “non-discrimination.” “[T]his would be tantamount to ordering military women to live in close quarters with men.” It would force persons to accept exposure to other persons who were sexually attracted to them.

3) “Zero Tolerance” = Intolerance of Dissent

Homosexual advocates recount the military’s history of mandating civil rights. But extending that concept to homosexuals as a special class would require “corollary policies enforcing ‘zero tolerance’ of anyone who disagrees for any reason.”

For those who complain about the acceptance of homosexuals, this could mean: denied promotions, forcing heterosexual military families to live with homosexual “families,” and other repercussions.

4) Unconvincing Arguments for Repeal

Arguments for repeal of the law are unconvincing, especially when we consider what is at stake. The law causes no national security risk. Nullifying it would damage military morale, discipline and cohesion, which would impact our national security.

Opponents of the 1993 law claim that the law forces the military to discharge a vital number of soldiers. As reported by the New York Times, then-Congressman Marty Meehan (D-Massachusetts) told the Washington Post:

“The Army is facing a recruiting crisis, yet we’re turning away volunteer soldiers who are willing and able to fight and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, simply because of their sexual orientation.”

Almost 13,000 service members have been discharged because of homosexuality, according to the so-called Service Members Legal Defense Network, a homosexual activist group that monitors the armed forces.

But the number of recruiting losses might be far worse if the law were to be repealed. According to a Military Times poll, the forces would lose at least 228,600 enlisted men — more than the number of active soldiers in the Marine Corps.

Opponents of the 1993 law claim that it denies homosexuals their “right” to enlist in the military. But if the military’s objective is to prepare for and to attain victory in combat, then homosexuals and policymakers must recognize what the armed forces already vehemently believes — repealing the 1993 “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” law would jeopardize the productivity of the military and endanger the safety of the nation.

Lydia Van Matre is an intern in Concerned Women for America's Ronald Reagan Memorial Internship Program. To find out more about the program, click here.